B r a n d y w i n e H o s p i t a l . c o m • Vo l u m e 8 , I s s u e 1

HealthLineBrandywIne HospItal—better health care, close to home

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The Advanced Center for Wound Healing

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7 steps to better sleep

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Cardiac services at Brandywine Hospital

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Guilt-free goodies

Going for the Gold!The Joint Commission has awarded

Brandywine Hospital four Gold

Seals of Approval as part of The

Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific

Care Certification program. Brandywine

Hospital received the special certifica-

tions for wound care, acute myocardial

infarction (AMI), hip replacement and knee

replacement. These awards validate to the

community Brandywine Hospital’s commit-

ment to quality and continuous improve-

ment of its programs and services.

In August, Brandywine Hospital under-

went a series of rigorous on-site surveys.

A team of Joint Commission expert sur-

veyors evaluated Brandywine’s programs

for compliance with standards of care spe-

cific to the needs of patients and families,

including infection prevention and control,

leadership, medication management and

patient education. At the completion of

the surveys, Brandywine Hospital was

awarded Gold Seals in all four areas. As a

Top Performer in Key Quality Measures,

Brandywine Hospital was acknowledged by

The Joint Commission for exemplary care

in the services presented, the camaraderie

between management and staff and the

overall passion of the entire staff for pro-

viding quality care to every patient.

“I applaud our entire staff for their

hard work each day to provide great care

to our patients,” says Bryan Burklow, chief

executive officer. “These recognitions rein-

force to the community that Brandywine

Hospital provides comprehensive, compas-

sionate medical care right here in the heart

of Chester County.”

See us onlineVisit QualityCheck.org

to learn more about our Joint commission

quality awards and accreditation.

About The Joint CommissionFounded in 1951, the Joint commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United states, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations. the Joint commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.

the Joint commission’s Disease-specific care certification program, launched in 2002, is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards, effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

Could it be a pinched nerve?Pinched nerves, which occur when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, such as bones, cartilage or muscles, can be painful and irritating. Understanding if you’re at an increased risk of one day experiencing a pinched nerve is the best way to help prevent it. Here are five risk factors: 1 Posture. Proper posture decreases the pressure to your spine and nerves. 2 Bone spurs. Conditions like osteoarthritis can cause you to develop bone spurs. They can

stiffen the spine and narrow the space where your nerves travel. 3 Overuse. Activities that involve extensive use of your hands,

wrists and shoulders can increase your risk of a pinched nerve.4 Obesity. Having excess weight adds more pressure from

muscles and body tissue onto your nerves. 5 Pregnancy. Weight gain from pregnancy can swell your nerve

passages and pinch your nerves.

Healthbriefs Long commutes take

toll on the heartDo you have a long ride to and from work? Well, here’s another drawback to the aggravation you may feel being trapped in your car: According to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, which looked at almost 4,300 Texas city workers, the longer you’re behind the wheel during your commute, the worse your heart health. Waistlines expanded, exercise routines disappeared, and with these bad habits came higher blood pressure and excess pounds.

Even for those who did exercise, these heart disease risk factors didn’t disappear, which means there’s probably something to the commute itself that’s harming hearts. Researchers hypothesize it could be that long-distance drivers are burning fewer calories overall and stress could be taking a toll. Researchers suggest finding other ways to add activity to your day, so don’t hesitate to bring a pair of walking shoes to work and hit the sidewalks during your lunch break.

Are you at risk?

Have you been checked for high

cholesterol? Make an appointment with your

doctor to discuss your risk factors and ways you can lower

your risk.

Butter and margarine go head to head

You see them next to each other in the grocery store, but which one do you choose? And,

more importantly, which type of fat is better for your heart? The decision is in: Most margarine

choices are a healthier option than butter, according

to the Mayo Clinic. Because margarine is made from

vegetable oils, it doesn’t contain dietary cholesterol and it’s higher in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, or “good,” fats, which, when substituted for saturated fats, help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, butter contains high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol because it’s made from animal fat.

Buyers beware, though: Choose your margarine carefully. Solid margarine—which comes in stick form—isn’t a good choice because it contains trans fat. Instead, choose soft or liquid margarine and check labels for the spread with the lowest calories, the least amount of saturated fat and no trans fat.

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2 Winter 2013

While you sleep, your brain is playing an

integral part in the maintenance of your

nervous system, laying pathways to help you learn and create

new memories.

Sleep is a time for you to rest and,

hopefully, get refreshed and ready

to face the new day. For your brain,

sleep is a time for work.

During those blissful hours of shut-

eye, your brain is playing an integral

part in the maintenance of your nervous

system, laying pathways to help you learn

and create new memories. Some experts

also think that sleep affords our brains

the opportunity to rest hardworking

neurons before they have a chance to

malfunction. In addition, connections

between neurons that aren’t frequently

used may finally get a chance to exercise

during sleep as a way of preventing their

deterioration.

If you cut your sleep sessions short

(or get less than the recommended seven

to eight hours), you’re interrupting these

vital processes and, as you probably

know, making it more difficult to

remember things or concentrate. You

may find it more difficult to work,

drive or function in general.

Hallucinations and mood swings

may also develop in more severe

cases of sleep deprivation.

Some very preliminary

research also seems to suggest

that poor sleep habits may age

your brain and contribute to

cognitive health problems such

as dementia, but more research is

needed. On other, more definitive health

fronts, lack of sleep has been linked to

heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Here’s to good sleepStruggling to get that elusive sleep can be

frustrating, but a good night’s sleep isn’t

just a dream. To keep your brain in tip-top

shape:

Schedule bedtime. Going to sleep at the

same time every night can help program

your body into a healthy cycle.

3Winter 2013

Exercise regularly. A good workout—if

not timed too close to bedtime, or about

five to six hours before you go to bed—can

help you achieve a deeper sleep.

Skip the cigarettes, nicotine and alcohol, all of which can negatively affect your

quality of sleep.

Relax. Read a book or soak in a nice,

warm bath before going to sleep.

Avoid staying in bed if you can’t sleep. Find another low-key activity to do until

you feel sleepy.

Keep your room cool, but not too cool. Extreme temperatures that make you

uncomfortable will keep you from

getting sleep.

Wake with the sun. It helps reset your

body’s internal clock.

Sleep and your brain For optimal health, get your shut-eye

70bh4 Volume 8, Issue 1 • brandywinehospital.com

Comprehensive orthopedic care

Advanced wound care

From simple fractures to joint

replacements, the board-certified

surgeons at Brandywine Hospital’s

orthopedics and neuroscience program

offer a complete range of services for the

correction and treatment of diseases, inju-

ries and deformities of the bones, joints,

muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves.

Care is provided by a multidisciplinary

team of orthopedic surgeons, neurosur-

geons, physical therapists, occupational

therapists and specially trained nurses.

“Our orthopedic floor was the first to

feature all-private rooms, which makes a

substantial difference,” says Christopher

Lyons, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and

physician lead on The Joint Commission

team. “It empowers nurses to individually

care for each patient with no stops along

the way. This system works quite well. We

As an affiliate of The Advanced

Center for Wound Healing, Brandywine

Hospital uses advanced clinical tech-

niques, including wound care products,

dressings, antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen

therapy, to help patients heal from chronic

wound conditions.

The center treats a variety of wounds,

including diabetic foot wounds, venous stasis

ulcers, arterial ulcers, surgical and pressure-

related wounds, osteomyelitis, radiation

injury or necrosis and necrotizing infections.

When patients choose The Advanced

Center for Wound Healing, they receive indi-

vidualized care. Treatment plans include

evidence-based modalities, including hyper-

baric oxygen therapy, bioengineered tissue

alternatives and compression therapy. Most

important, patients are treated by a compas-

sionate staff that works with them every day

to improve their quality of life.

maintain a lower than national average

infection rate as well as reduced lengths

of stay. Our orthopedic and neurosciences

team does a great job taking care of our

patients.”

Bone or joint problems?

For more information about our orthopedics

and neuroscience services, visit

BrandywineHospital.com, and choose

“services” and “orthopedic services”

or “Neuroscience & spine.”

Don’t suffer in silence

For more information about the advanced

center for Wound healing at brandywine

hospital, visit Brandywine

Hospital.com and choose “services” and

“Wound care.”

Orthopedic surgery Kenan aksu, D.o. michael campbell, D.o. christopher lyons, m.D. michael J. maggitti, m.D. John P. manta, m.D.

Neurosurgery andrew Freese, m.D., Ph.D.

The wound care team Dennis t. monteiro, m.D., Facs, medical director

antonio chamoun, m.D. Kevin Deangelis, D.P.m., m.s., FacFas John louis, m.D. Vincent Pongia, D.P.m., FacFas stephen soondar, D.P.m. stephanie Deviney, crNP, r.N., m.s.N. Diana bragoli, crNP, program director

Vincent Pongia, D.P.M., FACFAS (left), with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at The Advanced

Center for Wound healing

Drs. Aksu, Campbell, Lyons, Maggitti, Manta and Freese are independent members of the medical staff at Brandywine Hospital.

Drs. Monteiro, DeAngelis, Louis, Pongia and Soondar are

independent members of the medical staff at Brandywine

Hospital.

70bh 5Volume 8, Issue 1 • brandywinehospital.com

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Time counts in matters of the heart

Brandywine Hospital has been

providing advanced care for heart

failure for many years. With the sup-

port of the doctors from Brandywine Valley

Cardiology and the affiliation with the

Penn Heart & Vascular Network for cardio-

thoracic surgery, the cardiovascular team

knows the importance of skill and action

when it comes to matters of the heart.

“We wanted this recognition for the

longest time,” says Antonio Chamoun,

M.D., an interventional cardiologist. “To

be commended for the good work we do is

wonderful. The Joint Commission review-

ers didn’t ask for one adjustment or a

second visit. I’m extremely proud of our

department for its daily dedication and

the certification team for showcasing our

accomplishments.”

Door-to-balloon timeThe Joint Commission searched for

acute myocardial infarction performance

indicators such as outcomes,

work flow, an algorithm of

steps from emergency

room (ER) to cath lab,

efficiency, equip-

ment, staffing and

patient safety.

The hospital’s

door-to-balloon

time—the

time it takes

to treat a

heart attack

patient from

the moment he

or she arrives

in the ER to the

moment his or

her blocked artery

is opened—is signifi-

cantly low.

“Based on The Joint

Commission core measure data,

Brandywine Hospital has exceeded

the gold standard in heart attack

care,” says Annette DiEugenio, R.N.,

director of cardiovascular services.

“Our average door-to-balloon time is

72 minutes for all patients with a common

type of heart attack called STEMI, or

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarc-

tion. That’s 18 minutes—20 percent—

below the national benchmark of

90 minutes.”

Dr. Chamoun notes that the partner-

ship between the ER and interventional

cardiology is an essential factor in this

success. Once the triage nurses make the

initial assessment and start the heart

attack protocol, a well-orchestrated ER

and cardiac team must efficiently man-

age patients to assure the patient’s heart

has blood flow restored as quickly as

possible.

Heart care at Brandywine

Hospitalto make an

appointment with one of our cardiologists, call (610) 384-2211 or visit Brandywine Hospital.com and

choose “Find a Physician.” For more information about the

hospital’s cardiac services or to take heart care-related

quizzes, visit the website and

choose “heart center.”

Our cardiovascular teamannette Dieugenio, r.N., director of cardiovascular services

Cardiology antonio chamoun, m.D. sweta chandela, m.D. arthur b. hodess, m.D. rajesh reddy, D.o. michael P. sabadish, m.D. alex shpilman, m.D. Nicholas skiadas, m.D. stephanie t. Deviney, r.N., m.s.N., crNP melissa ann Kretz, r.N., m.s.N., crNP Joanne m. seward, r.N., m.s.N., crNP tracy hovis, r.N.

Cardiothoracic surgery (affiliated with Penn heart & Vascular Network)robert K. Wenger, m.D. Drs. Chamoun, Chandela, Hodess, Reddy, Sabadish,

Shipilman, Skiadas and Wenger are members of the medical staff at Brandywine Hospital.

HealthWise QUIZHow much do you know about medication management?

TAke ThIs QUIZ To fInd oUT.

1 According to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), splitting pills:

a. is safe for all medications b. can affect the way a medication is

absorbed c. should never be done unless the

pills are approved for splitting and you have your doctor’s OK

d. both b and c

2 Which tip is not recommended for storing medication?

a. Store it in a cool, dry place. b. Keep it in the original container. c. Keep the cotton plug in the bottle. d. none of the above

3 When talking with your doctor, you should let him or her know you take:

a. vitamins b. over-the-counter medicines c. herbal supplements d. all of the above

4 Which of the following drugs can interact with St. John’s wort?

a. blood thinners b. antidepressants c. pain medications (narcotics) d. all of the above

5 When ordering medication online, you should only purchase from a website that:

a. has an FDA seal of approval b. is accredited by the Verified

Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program

c. is based in Canada d. has testimonials

Answers: 1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (b)

Coping with stroke

6 Winter 2013

You didn’t see it coming, but

few people who have a stroke

do. And as you may know by

now, surviving a stroke is only half

the battle. How do you cope with a

life that’s forever changed?

First off, know that there are

many people facing the same situa-

tion as you. Almost 800,000 people

have strokes every year. Some may

recover with only minor residual

effects, while others are left with

permanent disabilities. Learning

to cope with your individual situa-

tion is critical to recovery. Here are

some strategies that may help:

Recognize the emotions. You’ll

likely go through a range of

emotions, from sadness about

things you may no longer be able

to do, to anger about why this hap-

pened to you, to frustration with

the difficulty of communicating

with loved ones. All of these

are normal feelings. If you’re

experiencing extended periods

of sadness, have lost interest in

life or have thoughts of suicide,

seek help immediately because

these are symptoms of depression.

If you’re a caregiver of someone

with stroke, learn to recognize

the signs.

Work with the new you. Recuperating will take time and

a lot of hard work, and you may

not totally get back to where you

were before. Set small goals for

yourself and celebrate as you

reach them. And don’t be afraid

to rest. Remain active. You may

not be moving the way you used

to, but don’t feel embarrassed by

having to use a cane or wheelchair.

You need to get out, even if only

for a short time. If your loved one

has had a stroke, encourage him

or her to meet up with friends or

engage in enjoyable activities, if he

or she is up to it.

Ask for help. Don’t be afraid

to reach out to friends and family

to assist with errands or just stop

by for a visit.

Growing up, health sources

touted that getting all your

vitamins and minerals was

your ticket to a life spent big and

strong. Today, parents have a multi-

tude of vitamin choices to help their

children get all those necessary

You make it through dinner,

keeping your promise to limit

the calories and fat. But then

comes the course that almost always

gets you to cave: dessert.

Though it can be a calorie and

fat trap, you don’t have to skimp on

the meal’s finale. Instead, you need

to find a way to satisfy that sweet

tooth without guilt. And that’s where

nature’s sweetest low-fat, low-calorie

offering—fruit!—comes in:

Apple of your eye: Slice up some

apples and sprinkle with a little bit

of cinnamon, then bake.

Layer: Alternate layers of nonfat

yogurt with fresh fruit in a parfait

glass.

Get your calcium, too: Keep low-fat

nutrients. But does your child really

need them?

It’s a question with no easy

answer, experts say. Research has

only seemed to make things more con-

fusing for parents. A recent study led

by the National Institutes of Health

found that children who could have

benefited the most from vitamins

often weren’t getting them, and those

children who didn’t need them were

taking them. The study also found

that some children—whether their

parents supplemented their diet with

vitamins or not—were deficient in

the nutrients vitamin D and calcium

while many took in too much iron

and vitamin A, leading researchers

or nonfat fruit yogurt on hand for an

afternoon pick-me-up.

The grill isn’t only for meat: Slice up

peaches, bananas and pineapples and

give them a little heat, which will

bring out their natural sweetness.

Try an even quicker sweet fix: Pop open some canned fruit

(canned in its own juice or

water—no heavy syrup!)

and enjoy.

Think heavenly: Not all

cakes are created equal.

Angel food cake is a

healthy option that’s

made even better with

the addition of some

fresh fruit or fruit

puree on top.

to hypothesize that those pills may

not be a good match for today’s

childhood diets.

What should you do?The general recommendation from

the American Academy of Pediatrics

is that supplements are rarely needed

in children ages 5 to 10 because most

children can get all the vitamins

and minerals they need through diet

alone. But for children who may have

more erratic or poor eating habits,

or follow a certain diet (for example,

vegetarian without dairy), a supple-

ment may be necessary.

Start by talking with your pedia-

trician about your child’s habits to

see if a supplement might be ben-

efitial. Your pediatrician might have

other suggestions about how your

child can meet nutritional goals (for

example, finding alternative food

sources that your child enjoys).

Make your own icy treat: Freeze

grapes and bananas for an ice cream

alternative. Choose wisely: If your

dessert options are limited to a res-

taurant menu, look for a fruit salad

or sorbet, sherbet or meringues and

skip the chocolate lava cake.

Get creative: OK, so you really want

to make that brownie recipe. You can

still cut down on the sugar intake

by substituting equal amounts of

unsweetened applesauce, or cutting

the amount of sugar in half.

‘V’ is for vitaminDo your kids need vitamin supplements?

Just dessertsSatisfying a sweet tooth—without the guilt

7Winter 2013

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLebanon Junction, KY

Permit 19

Brandywine Hospital201 Reeceville RoadCoatesville, PA 19320

BrandywineHospital.com 70bh

HealthLine is published by the marketing Department of brandywine hospital to bring information about health issues and the latest developments in health care to the residents of chester county. health information provided in HealthLine should not be substituted for medical advice offered by a physician. Please consult your family physician on medical concerns and questions.

(610) 383-8000 | brandywinehospital.com

Copyright © 2013 Brandywine Hospital

VOlume 8, Issue 1 Printed With Soy Ink

Support when you need it ABC: After Breast Cancer

Support GroupWhen: First thursday of every month, 6–8 p.m.Where: third-floor conference room, brandywine hospitalCall: (610) 857-2342

Bariatrics SeminarInformational seminar about surgical weight-loss optionsWhen: First thursday of every month, 6:30 p.m.Where: third-floor conference room, brandywine hospitalCall: (610) 384-6550 to register

Bariatric Support GroupFree and open to all who have had or are planning to have weight-loss surgery When: First tuesday of every month, 6–7:30 p.m.Where: 1 West conference room, brandywine hospitalCall: (610) 384-6550 for more information

Bereavement Support Grouphosted by brandywine river Valley hospiceWhen: second and fourth thursdays of every month, 6:30–8 p.m.Where: 1 West conference room, brandywine hospitalCall: (610) 383-8540 if you’d like to attend

Diabetes Support GroupFree and no registration required When: second Wednesday of every month, 7–9 p.m.Call: (610) 383-8358 for more information

Look Good … Feel Betterhelping women with cancerCall: lori siskind at (610) 660-9464 or email lorima2002@yahoo.com

Stay healthy, live better

Join senior Circle today!

the senior circle program at brandywine hospital offers adults ages 50 and better fun ways to stay connected and live healthy, fulfilling lives. senior circle encourages an active lifestyle for older adults. monthly, our senior circle chapter offers a variety of health and wellness events, exercise classes and day trips. We welcome you to join us and enjoy valuable members-only local and national benefits.

For just $15 a year, you’ll enjoy health talks, hospital benefits and prescription, vision care and security discounts. call (610) 383-8171 to join today!

New Groups Eating Disorders Support Group

the purpose of this group is to educate and raise awareness about anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. We seek to provide support and encour-

agement to those with an eating disorder along with their fami-lies, friends,

co-workers, therapists, doctors and others. We offer a safe and encourag-ing environment for males and females ages 13 and older. When: every other thursday, 6:30–7:30 p.m.Where: 2 North conference room Call: (610) 383-4950 for more information

Ostomy Support Groupliving with an ostomy? Join this meeting with the brandywine hospital–chester county ostomy association for support and guidance. When: third tuesday of every month, 7–8 p.m.Where: 2 North conference roomCall: amy Yurasits, r.N., cWocN, at (610) 383-8431